Set Up Word Problems Systems

Trevor and Kylie are selling fruit for a school fundraiser. Customers can buy small boxes of oranges (x) and large boxes of oranges (y). Trevor sold 3 boxes of small oranges and 14 boxes of large oranges for a total of $203. Kylie sold 11 small boxes of oranges and 11 large boxes of oranges for a total of $220.

Some students want to order shirts with their school logo. One company charges $9.65 per shirt plus a setup fee of $43. Another company charges $8.40 per shirt plus a $58 fee. Which equation represents the number of shirts when both companies charge the same amount?

• y = 9.65 + x
  y = 8.40 + x

• y = 9.65x + 43
  y = 8.40x + 58

• y =9.65x
  y = 8.40x

• y = 9.65x - 43
  y = 8.40x - 58

Write the system of inequalities
Eiko is drawing caricatures at a fair for 8 hours (480 minutes). She can complete a small drawing in 15 minutes and charges $10 for the drawing. She can complete a larger drawing in 45 minutes and charges $25 for the drawing. Eiko hopes to make at least $200 at the fair. 

• 10x+15y≤480
  45x+25y≥250

• 10x+25y≤200
  15x+45y≤480

• 10x+25y>200
  15x+45y<480

• 10x+25y≥200
  15x+45y≤480

Cullin needs to save at least $100 for homecoming.  He works 2 jobs earning $8/hour at Culvers and $25/hour mowing lawns.  He only has time to work 14 hours before homecoming. 

• x + y  ≥ 25
  x + y ≤ 8

• 100x + 25 y ≤ 100
  2x + 8y ≤ 14

• x + y ≥ 100
  8x + 25y ≤ 14

• 8x + 25y ≥ 100
  x + y ≤ 14

Cole is doing a basketball challenge for charity. In order to win money for the charity, he needs to score at least 20 points in less than 10 shots. If x is the number of 2-point shots, and y is the number of three point shots, which inequalities below represent the situation?

• x + y < 10

  2x + 3y ≥ 20

• x + y ≤ 10

  2x + 3y ≥ 20

• x + y ≤ 10

  2x + 3y > 20

• x + y < 10

  2x + 3y > 20

Homer sells tickets for admission to your school play and collects a total of $104. Admission prices are $6 for adults and $4 for children. He sold 21 tickets total. To solve, I graphed: x + y = 21 6x + 4y = 104 I got an intersection point at (10,11). What does that mean in context of the problem?

• There are 10 adults and 11 children.

• There are 11 adults and 10 children.

• The adults are $10 and the children are $11.

• There are 104 adults and 21 children.

A water tank (t) holds 256 gallons but is leaking at a rate of 3 gallons (g) per week. A second water tank (t) holds 384 gallons but is leaking at a rate of 5 gallons (g) per week. After how many weeks will the amount in the two tanks be the same?

• 3g + 5g = 640

  W = 256 + 384

• W = 256 - 3g

  W = 384 - 5g

• W = 256 + 3g

  W = 384 + 5g

Answer explanation

Remember that decreasing will be subtraction.

The cost of 5 squash and 2 zucchini is $1.32. Three squash and 1 zucchini cost $0.75. Write a system of equations.

• 5q + 2z = 1.32
  1z = 0.75

• 5q + 2z = 1.32
  3q + 1z = 0.75

• q + z = 1.32
  q + z = 0.75

• 5q + 2z = 0.75
  3q + 1z = 1.32

John was 20 feet away and was running 5 feet per minute. Alex was 50 feet away and was 3 feet per minute. Write a system of two equations for this situation?

• y = 5x + 20

  y = 3x + 50

• y = 20x + 5

  y = 50x + 3

• y = 5x + 50

  y = 2x + 20

• y = 50x + 5

  y = 20x + 3

Kate is selling bracelets and earrings on Etsy to make money for summer vacation. The bracelets (x) cost $2 and earrings (y) cost $3. She needs to make at least $100, but can only make up to 40 pieces of jewelry. Which inequalities represent this situation?

• 2x + 3y > 100

  x + y ≤ 40

• 100x + 2y > 3

  x + y ≤ 40

• 100x + 40y > 100

  3x + 2y ≤ 40

• 3x + 2y > 100

  x + y ≤ 40